The atmosphere was heavy. Deep in the thick shade of the trees, the air felt a little easier to breathe for a brief moment. Master Fung Shu-Ri and Master Kin Lishuan stood together, watching Mo Yan with heavy hearts.

  As Mo Yan prepared to depart, he turned to Master Chui Yong and spoke firmly.

  "I am going to find Yu Sui,"

  Mo Yan declared, standing tall despite the throbbing pain in his shoulder. Without another word, he stepped into the dark forest and vanished. The three Masters and the young boy remained behind, their eyes fixed on the spot where he had disappeared.

  Inside the Forest…

  Mo Yan pushed through thorns and tangled branches until he reached a secluded clearing. It was unnervingly silent, yet possessed a raw, natural beauty. There, he dropped to one knee, took a deep breath, and closed his eyes.

  "Bai Long..." he whispered.

  A silver light erupted from the mark on his back. It glowed brilliantly, and with a silent roar, the dragon emerged from the sigil.

  Bai Long swirled through the air like a ribbon of living silk, moving with an ethereal grace. He lowered his head before Mo Yan. When he spoke, his voice was exceptionally heavy and rare a stern, resonant sound. He was the only Spirit Beast capable of speaking directly to his master.

  "Command me, Young Master,"

  Bai Long intoned.

  Mo Yan looked at him and replied with equal gravity,

  "Find Yu Sui. Now."

  Without hesitation, the White Dragon soared into the sky, circling upward in a grand arc. His shimmering, undulating body looked like a celestial deity descending from the heavens. Reaching the clouds, Bai Long halted and closed his eyes. In that instant, a spherical pulse of golden energy burst from his body, expanding across the entire region within minutes. It was so pure that every leaf on every tree trembled at its touch. The ripple moved outward like a wave on the surface of a still pond.

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  Suddenly, the energy struck someone’s back and turned stagnant it had found its target. The person it hit was Yu Sui.

  Bai Long felt it immediately the resonance of Yu Sui’s energy and the echo of the Phoenix. With the speed of a lightning bolt, he returned to Mo Yan and bowed in respect. He closed his eyes before his master, and from the glow on his forehead, a single, radiant blue butterfly emerged. It was a spiritual guide, shimmering with a blue aura, carrying Yu Sui’s location within its wings. Bai Long did this because, despite being a beast of spiritual energy, he was bound by ancient laws of conduct.

  The butterfly fluttered forward. Mo Yan did not hesitate; he pursued the creature through the dense woods. After a while, the sharp, unmistakable ring of clashing steel reached his ears. Mo Yan’s heart hammered against his ribs. He sprinted toward the sound.

  Breaking through the trees, he saw it.

  Yu Sui was fighting alone, surrounded by nearly a dozen armored soldiers. His clothes were shredded, and a deep sword wound marred his leg. Despite the obvious difficulty he had standing, he remained defiant, anchored in the center of the enemy circle.

  "Yu Sui!!" Mo Yan whispered.

  At that moment, several soldiers lunged at Yu Sui simultaneously. Yu Sui raised his blade to parry, but before the enemy steel could strike, another sword intercepted them. It was Mo Yan’s. He looked into Yu Sui’s eyes for a fleeting second. Both their gazes burned with an unspoken, fierce resolve.

  The moment their eyes met... in that singular heartbeat... the threads bound between them flared back to life. The Mantra Seal reawakened. As was its nature, it was impossible to break, cut, or burn. The mantra only lay dormant when they were apart; the moment they drew near, it surged with power.

  That was its true strength it was indelible.

  Mo Yan’s sword danced in a silver arc, clashing with the soldiers' blades. In a matter of minutes, the enemies lay fallen.

  When the dust settled, a heavy silence descended between the two youths. The only sound was the rustle of leaves in the wind. Yu Sui staggered slightly, glancing down at the wound on his leg. Mo Yan moved to his side, gasping for air, his hand still tight on his hilt.

  For a long time, neither spoke.

  Then... Yu Sui looked away, his voice a barely audible murmur.

  "Why did you come?”